Page 35 of The Dark Lord Awakens (Dark Service #1)

“The Bread of Vitality,” I improvised, holding up a slice. “Unlike your common loaves, this bread is infused with energies that strengthen the body and sharpen the mind.”

I broke off a small piece and popped it into my mouth, chewing thoughtfully.

It was just regular white bread, but to these demons who were used to whatever passed for bread in this realm—probably dense, hard loaves made from whatever grain-adjacent substance they could grow in perpetual twilight—it might as well have been ambrosia.

“Would anyone care to sample the Bread of Vitality?” I asked, offering the loaf.

There was a moment of hesitation, then Magister Wiggles stepped forward, his translucent skin rippling with swirling magical patterns. “I would be honored, my lord, to taste the fruits of your void mastery.”

I handed him a slice, which he examined with scholarly intensity before taking a small, cautious bite. His eyes widened immediately, the swirling patterns beneath his skin accelerating wildly.

“By the ancient shadows,” he whispered, then took another, larger bite. “It’s… it’s incredible! So soft, yet substantial. Sweet, yet not cloying.” He turned to the crowd, holding up the remaining bread like it was a holy relic. “The Dark Lord has indeed brought us wonders beyond imagination!”

A murmur ran through the crowd. More demons stepped forward, eager to try this miraculous food. I broke the loaf into pieces, distributing them among the department heads and their chief lieutenants.

Meanwhile, the water heater had been set up and was now bubbling away. I returned to the cup noodle, removed the lid completely, and poured hot water up to the line inside.

“Now we wait,” I announced dramatically. “The void energies require precisely three minutes to activate.”

The demons watched in fascinated silence as I replaced the lid and set the cup on the table. You could have heard a pin drop in that courtyard as everyone stared at the unassuming cup of instant ramen like it might start performing a musical number at any moment.

While we waited, I opened one of the bottled waters, unscrewing the cap with a theatrical flourish. “The Waters of Purity,” I declared, taking a sip. “Cleansed by void energies, free of all taint and contamination.”

I passed the bottle to Lady Shadowfax, whose shadowy form seemed to solidify slightly as she accepted it. She examined the clear plastic container with fascination before taking a delicate sip.

Her glowing eyes widened. “It is… untainted,” she whispered. “No sulfur, no mineral harshness, no trace of shadow essence or blood algae.” She took another, longer drink. “It is simply… water. Perfect water.”

The three minutes finally elapsed, and I returned to the cup noodle with all the gravity of a priest performing a sacred ritual. I removed the lid, revealing the now-softened noodles in their steaming broth.

“The transformation is complete,” I announced, stirring the noodles with the provided plastic fork. I took a bite, savoring the familiar, artificially enhanced spicy chicken flavor that had sustained me through countless late-night gaming sessions in my previous life.

“Mmm,” I said, genuinely enjoying the taste. “The void energies are potent indeed.”

I offered the cup to General Smashington, who had been watching the proceedings with military discipline but undisguised curiosity. His massive four-armed frame dwarfed the cup as he accepted it, sniffing the steam cautiously before taking a bite.

The effect was immediate and dramatic. The general’s eyes widened, then began to glow with an intensity I hadn’t seen before. He straightened to his full height, his obsidian skin seeming to shimmer with new energy.

“By the dark abyss,” he rumbled, his voice somehow even deeper than usual. “I feel… power flowing through me! The void sustenance—it strengthens not just the body, but the spirit!”

He flexed his arms, and to my astonishment, the obsidian-like material of his skin actually cracked slightly, revealing glowing red energy beneath that quickly sealed itself, leaving his arms looking more defined, more powerful than before.

“What the…” I muttered, then caught myself. “I mean, yes! The void energies are transforming you, General. Your true potential is being unlocked.”

Was the food actually magical? Or was this some kind of placebo effect? I hadn’t ordered enchanted ramen—just regular cup noodles. But then again, this was a fantasy world with actual magic. Maybe the interdimensional shipping process had imbued the food with special properties?

More demons crowded forward, eager to try the miraculous food that had visibly strengthened their general. I quickly organized an impromptu tasting station, having servants prepare more cup noodles and distribute bread, protein bars, and water to the assembled crowd.

The results were consistent and astonishing.

Each demon who consumed the “void provisions” experienced some kind of enhancement—increased strength, brighter glowing eyes, more vibrant magical auras.

Even the smallest imp demons stood taller, their spindly limbs suddenly capable of lifting crates that should have been beyond their capacity.

“My lord,” Azrael murmured beside me, “the void sustenance appears to be increasing their magical essence. Their mana reserves are visibly expanding.”

“Yes, exactly as I… intended,” I replied, making a mental note to order exclusively from OpenSesame from now on. Apparently, their food came with magical performance enhancers built in. The FDA would have a field day.

Duke Splashypants approached, his webbed hands clutching an empty cup noodle container. The gills on his neck were flaring with excitement, and the water that constantly dripped from his amphibious form now seemed to glisten with tiny sparks of blue energy.

“My lord,” he gurgled, “the Void Soup has awakened ancient powers within my aquatic lineage! The Moist Dominion shall serve you with renewed vigor!”

“Excellent,” I replied, trying not to laugh at the phrase ‘Moist Dominion’ for the hundredth time. “Your loyalty will be remembered.”

A small commotion drew my attention to the far side of the courtyard, where a group of lower-ranking demons was excitedly examining one of the nutritional supplement bottles designed for the severely malnourished.

One of them, a sickly-looking demon with translucent skin and visible bones, had apparently consumed some.

Before my eyes, the demon’s form began to change.

His hunched posture straightened, his skin took on a healthier hue, and the bones that had protruded sharply beneath his skin receded as muscle and tissue formed.

Within minutes, he looked like an entirely different creature—vibrant, strong, and literally glowing with vitality.

“The Elixir of Transformation!” someone shouted. “The Dark Lord has brought us the legendary elixir!”

Oh boy. This was getting out of hand. If regular cup noodles and protein bars were causing this kind of reaction, what would the actual medical supplies do?

“These provisions must be distributed carefully,” I announced loudly. “The most potent sustenance must be reserved for those in greatest need. The rest will be shared equally among all citizens.”

I turned to General Smashington, who was still flexing his newly enhanced muscles. “General, prepare your troops to transport these supplies to the Ashen Fields. The strongest void sustenance should be delivered directly to Healer 47 for distribution to the most vulnerable.”

“At once, my lord!” the general boomed, his voice carrying easily over the excited chatter of the crowd.

I pulled Azrael aside. “We need to control this situation,” I said quietly. “If these supplies are having such dramatic effects, they could cause chaos if not properly managed.”

Azrael nodded, his crimson eyes fixed on a group of servants who were practically arm wrestling for the chance to try a protein bar. “Indeed, my lord. Such power must be distributed with care. Perhaps we should establish stricter protocols for the camp?”

“Agreed. And we need to understand exactly what these ‘void provisions’ are doing. Have Magister Wiggles study them—discreetly.”

As the supplies began to be loaded onto wagons for transport, I couldn’t help but notice several demons surreptitiously pocketing extra cup noodles or protein bars.

One particularly sneaky imp had somehow managed to stuff three packages of instant ramen into his tunic without being noticed by anyone but me.

Great. I’d just inadvertently created a black market for cup noodles. If these things really did enhance magical abilities, they’d be worth their weight in gold to the demons. I’d have to monitor the situation carefully to prevent hoarding or exploitation.

But there was also opportunity here. If I could control the supply of these “void provisions,” I’d have another lever of power besides just being the “prophesied Dark Lord.” And if I could figure out why ordinary human food was having such dramatic effects on demons, maybe I could replicate or enhance the process.

“Azrael,” I said, “I think we should establish a permanent trade route to the void realms. These provisions could transform our kingdom.”

“A most wise decision, my lord,” Azrael replied, bowing deeply. “Your mastery of void commerce will surely cement Iferona’s power among the shadow realms.”

I nodded sagely, as if I’d planned this all along instead of stumbling into it through a cosmic shopping spree. “Indeed. Perhaps a dedicated facility for receiving and distributing void goods. A… Void Emporium, if you will.”

“Brilliant, my lord. The demons will flock to your Void Emporium, strengthening both themselves and your rule.”

I suppressed a smile at the thought of opening what was essentially a 7-Eleven in a demonic realm. “The Void Emporium will have to wait, however. For now, our priority is the relief camp.”

I raised my voice to address the courtyard at large.

“My loyal subjects! The void has provided for us today, but this is merely the beginning. Follow the distribution plan we have established, and soon all citizens of Iferona will feel the benefits of these provisions. Go forth and prepare the Ashen Fields!”

The demons cheered, many still glowing or vibrating with their newly enhanced energies. They set to work with unprecedented efficiency, loading wagons and forming organized lines without a single squabble or power struggle—a minor miracle in itself.

General Smashington stepped forward. “Your orders, my lord? Shall we begin transport to the Ashen Fields?”

I nodded, trying to look like this was all according to plan rather than a completely unexpected magical side effect. “Proceed as discussed. Security teams first, then setup crews.”

The demons leaped into action with surprising efficiency. Soldiers began loading supplies onto wagons, while others rushed ahead to prepare the relief site. The courtyard transformed into a hive of purposeful activity.

“I must say, my lord,” Azrael commented as we watched, “your strategic acumen has grown as impressive as your magical prowess. To think of establishing a relief camp outside the city… most innovative.”

“Just practical problem-solving,” I replied, trying to sound modest rather than terrified by the weight of responsibility I’d just taken on.

“And to manifest not only food but shelter, hygiene supplies, and medical equipment… all with such potent magical enhancements…” Azrael’s eyes had taken on that unsettling glow again. “Your power has evolved beyond anything in our recorded history.”

I cleared my throat uncomfortably. “Yes, well… a Dark Lord must be versatile.”

“Indeed,” Azrael murmured, his gaze lingering on me with an intensity that made me acutely aware of how close he was standing. “Most versatile.”

I quickly changed the subject. “We should go to the Ashen Fields. I want to oversee the camp setup personally.”

“Of course, my lord. I shall have your shadow steed prepared immediately.”

Shadow steed. Right. Because a normal horse would be too mundane for a dark lord. I just hoped it wasn’t another pet I’d named something ridiculous like “Sir Gallopsalot” or “Hooves McGee.”

As we left the balcony, I glanced back at the courtyard, now bustling with purposeful activity. For the first time since arriving in this world, I felt like I might actually be able to do some good here. It wasn’t what I’d expected from being a dark lord, but maybe that was the point.

Maybe being a dark lord wasn’t about terrorizing the populace and cackling maniacally from atop a throne of skulls. Maybe it was about using whatever power you had—whether magical abilities or just an interdimensional shopping app with unexpected magical side effects—to help those who needed it.

Or maybe I was overthinking it, and I should just enjoy the fact that I now had demons bowing and scraping and calling me the “Master of the Void” because I could order magic-enhancing cup noodles in bulk.

Either way, I had a relief camp to set up and forty thousand demons to feed. Dark Lordship, it turned out, came with a surprising amount of administrative work—and apparently, a side business in magical fast food.